Grizzlies edge Marist in MWL opener

BY Joe Zavala...

Jesse Carroll drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth to force in what proved to be the winning run as Ashland beat Marist 3-2 in the Midwestern League baseball opener for both teams Tuesday in Eugene.

Marist threatened with two base-runners in the bottom of the seventh, but Nick Sanderson struck out the last batter to clinch the road win for the Grizzlies (2-0).

Sanderson picked up the save after relieving Peyton Fuller, who struck out 12 in five innings of work. Fuller escaped a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the fifth without giving up a run.

Ashland went ahead 1-0 in the first when Shea Scott stole home, and took a 2-1 lead when Tzadhil Burt scored on a throwing error in the fifth.

Marist fell to 1-1.

College Softball

Southern Oregon University was ranked 18th in the first NAIA Top 25 softball poll of the regular season Tuesday.

The Raiders (21-4), who have won nine straight and lead the Cascade Conference with an 8-1 league record, vaulted into the rankings after being left out of the preseason coaches' poll.

No. 22 Oregon Tech (15-5) was the only other team from the CCC to crack the top 25.

Undefeated Oklahoma City (30-0) was a unanimous No. 1 after receiving all 19 first-place votes, William Carey is No. 2 and Columbia No. 3.

The Raiders, who were one of nine teams to jump into the top 25 after missing out in the preseason poll, host University of British Columbia in a pair of doubleheaders slated for Friday and Saturday in Ashland.